Building height restrictions scrapped for key North Adelaide sites
HEIGHT restrictions on key sites in North Adelaide will be scrapped, after Planning Minister John Rau approved sweeping development reforms for the suburb — but the move may be blocked.
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HEIGHT restrictions on key sites in North Adelaide will be scrapped, after Planning Minister John Rau approved sweeping development reforms for the suburb.
The changes will allow unlimited development on Lincoln College, Memorial Hospital, Helping Hand Aged Care, the Lutheran Church and a portion of St Marks College.
Buildings up to 14-storeys will be permitted on the Women’s and Children’s Hospital land.
St Dominic’s Priory College, Calvary Hospital and Helping Hand Aged Care will also be able to buy land and develop it anywhere within North Adelaide.
Adelaide City Council, which has been pushing to retain a six-storey height limit, held a special meeting last week after Mr Rau informed it of his decision.
Lord Mayor Martin Haese plans to front parliament’s Environment, Resources and Development Committee in an attempt to block the reforms.
Mr Rau argued the changes were needed to improve health and education services in North Adelaide.
However, North Ward councillor Phil Martin said they would destroy the suburb’s heritage, and most locals were opposed to the height increases.
“Rau is metaphorically raising two fingers to the people of North Adelaide,” Cr Martin said.
“This is development in what has been a historic conservation zone preserved because of its unique character.”
The City North Weekly understands that St Dominic’s Priory College, on Molesworth Street, has already bought nearby land in anticipation of the changes.
Councillor Anne Moran said the council should have compromised by accepting uncapped building heights in the hope of limiting development to the college’s existing site.
“The critical point Rau ignored is the hard boundaries that stop institutions from creeping out and taking over the suburb,” Cr Moran said.
“We should have thrown (Mr Rau) a bone — I would’ve given up height to make the boundaries tight — but now everything’s been lost.
“We’re seeing St Dominic’s Priory already spreading its fingers to incorporate nearby houses, and these institutions offer more than market value.
“They back in the money trucks and people can’t say no. This could be the death knell for people’s homes.”
Mr Rau maintained the changes were appropriate.
“The City of Adelaide was consulted extensively on this Development Plan Amendment over a period of almost four years,” Mr Rau said.
“What has ultimately been approved is a policy which balances the needs of existing residents and the broader strategic goals of improving education and health services in North Adelaide.”
Calvary Hospital and St Dominic’s Priory College did not respond to questions by the City North Weekly’s deadline.